For the second year in a row, there is no Quebecer in Canada’s lead group at the IIHF World Championship announced Thursday, in favor of a rarely available candidate, Doug Armstrong, who will serve as the delegation’s general manager.
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The current GM of the St. Louis Blues succeeds Shane Doan, who will be his partner this year. In 2021, former goalkeeper Roberto Luongo led the Maple Leaf to gold.
With the Blues missing the National Hockey League playoffs barring a major upset, Armstrong is available for the Worlds. The Missouri squad has only missed the spring schedule once since 2012.
“It is always an honor to represent your country on the international stage. I’m grateful that Hockey Canada gave me this opportunity and I look forward to working with the players and coaches to bring home the gold,” Armstrong told the Blues website.
Under the 58-year-old, Canadians have generally enjoyed great success, winning the 2010 and 2014 Olympic tournaments and winning the 2007 and 2016 World Championships.
Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman will serve as Armstrong’s assistant for the tournament, while Scott Salmond will serve as senior vice president of hockey operations. These men and their leadership group will appoint the coaching staff in the coming weeks.
Last year, Franco-Ontarian Claude Julien took over the role of pilot for the Canadian team. He was notably assisted by André Tourigny, the current head coach of the Arizona Coyotes. The representatives of the Maple Leaf took silver and lost to the Finns in the final.
The 2023 World Cup will take place from May 12th to 28th in Tampere, Finland and Riga, Latvia.